Do you think it really matters what facility performs your radiation treatment?

brigboo67
brigboo67 Member Posts: 24
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My mom is so torn between going back to Mayo for all her treatment or staying here in Peoria, IL and having it done. Staying local would help my sister and I as my dad has cancer too. My sister and I are going to have to take two week turns going back and forth to Mayo to be with my mom and while we are home have the responsiblity of my dad...However, we want to make sure our mom has the best possible shot at treatment and survival...So, I was wondering do you think that the facility that performs the radiation can make or break your survival rate???

Comments

  • mswijiknyc
    mswijiknyc Member Posts: 421
    #2
    hmmmm
    I know my husband's last ENT told us this: When it comes to rads, yes it does. Not every rad onco has experience in H&N, so going to just anyone is NOT the best option. I flirted with the same idea for hubby as there is a radiation center not 5 minutes from the house. However, his ENT made it clear, for H&N you don't want to go with someone who kinda knows what they're doing, you want the best. The rad onco ENT was sending him to is the top H&N rad guy in NY state.

    It is also a comfort thing to a degree, which (to me) translates into mental. If you are confident with your treatment plan and the team performing the treatment, I have to believe that this translates into better results.

    Talk to Mayo and see if they have any options available for out of towners coming in for treatment. Also call the local chapter of ACS and see what they have to offer after explaining the situation. While hubby's treatment would still have been in NYC, they offered car services and if the travel was too much they even offered room and board extremely close to the hospital.

    I know this is a tough call for you and your family. Sending all the loves and happy thoughts I can.
    April
  • Fire34
    Fire34 Member Posts: 365
    #3
    University of Chicago
    Brig
    I had my treatment at the University of Chicago. My opinion of the treatment I received is bias of course, but it was the greatest as far as I am concerned.
    I was part of a clinical trial there, but I am sure their normal cancer treatment would be just as great. All three docs there worked as a team during your treatment.
    There are other Illini here that have been treated at other Illinois University medical centers other than U of Chicago and have also received the greatest of care. Hope this helps a little
    Wishes & Prayers on whichever decision yur mom makes
    Dave
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #4
    Hi brigboo

    I did both my rad and chemo treatments local and I am now living to regret it. Had they done it right the first time I would never had to have it a second time. They got the cancer but are killing me with the side effects of the treatment. I now go to MD Anderson in Houston; it is a 325 miles drive each way but worth it. My advice to anyone is to stay away from small town clinic.

    Wishing you the best
    Hondo
  • palmyrafan
    palmyrafan Member Posts: 396
    #5
    Radiation
    I agree with the others. It really does make a difference.

    When I was told that I needed radiation therapy, I thought it would be easier to go to the local hospital 10 minutes from our house instead of the Cleveland Clinic which was almost 90 minutes away. This was hard for me because I kept getting carsick and had to take Antivert which always made me tired and loopy.

    The RadOnc at the Cleveland Clinic also told me that it really did make a difference. In his view (and the neurosurgeon and all the other specialists), they already had all my records, they were familiar with my case and knew exactly what I needed, how much and where the radiation needed to be focused in the brain, sinuses, carotid artery and optic nerves. If I had chosen the local hospital, I would have had to go through more tests and in the long run, it would have cost more to have all new MRI's, CT Scans, blood work, etc. than it would to drive the daily (30 sessions) route 90 miles each way. The Clinic validated our parking which saved us money on the parking and they helped out with the medication by giving me some samples so we didn't have to pay out all the money for the Rx. They went above and beyond and in the end, while I didn't want the radiation, the Clinic really was the best choice for me.

    Good luck to you and your family and you are in my prayers.

    Teresa
  • Scambuster
    Scambuster Member Posts: 973
    #6
    Hondo said:

    Hi brigboo

    I did both my rad and chemo treatments local and I am now living to regret it. Had they done it right the first time I would never had to have it a second time. They got the cancer but are killing me with the side effects of the treatment. I now go to MD Anderson in Houston; it is a 325 miles drive each way but worth it. My advice to anyone is to stay away from small town clinic.

    Wishing you the best
    Hondo

    IMRT
    I had IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radio Therapy) at a top location. As they H & N is close to so many things we use and need, accuracy is a high priority in all aspects of the treatment re;Mask fitting, positioning, directing of the beam, duration, frequency and intensity, so many factors are involved and you want to make sure they get every one right. I go with Hondo's sentiments.

    Don't be afraid to ask them questions and have them explain what they are doing and get to know the 'Techies' during Rads.

    Scam
  • Jimbo55
    Jimbo55 Member Posts: 590 Member
    #7
    Go with the Best
    If you had a mint '67 Corvette that needed some work, would you take it down the street to the local mac or go across town to the vette specialist? You only get one chance to get this right, err on the side of caution. I wouldn't want to have any regrets later on. Which facility do you have the most confidence in? Cheers

    Jimbo
  • buzz99
    buzz99 Member Posts: 404
    #8
    Radiation
    We opted to have Buzz's treatment locally in Albuquerque after consulting with Mayo Clinic in Arizona. The center here is affiliated with MD Anderson. Our radiation oncologist was very knowledgeable and consulted with his associates in Houston. Buzz completed treatment in January and is doing very well. We felt we would get good care here and would be more comfortable staying home. I know it is a tough decision.
  • Slowlane
    Slowlane Member Posts: 4
    #9
    buzz99 said:

    Radiation
    We opted to have Buzz's treatment locally in Albuquerque after consulting with Mayo Clinic in Arizona. The center here is affiliated with MD Anderson. Our radiation oncologist was very knowledgeable and consulted with his associates in Houston. Buzz completed treatment in January and is doing very well. We felt we would get good care here and would be more comfortable staying home. I know it is a tough decision.

    I checked out 3 clinics first
    I had no idea what I was doing trying to select a radiation treatment facility. I interviewed 3 ROs at 3 different clinics and am I glad I did. The difference was tremendous. One private company wanted to do 40 IMRTs and 12 chemos and the RO hit me up as an old used car salesman - I think they were trying to make a payment or buy a new boat. Another was good but the waiting room was standing room only and they wanted my co-pay before they would even talk to me. The one I picked was clean, private parking, modern new equipment, highly skilled staff 35 IMRTs and 3 chemos. GLAD I LOOKED AROUND.
    SCC BOT stage 4 dx 7-2010
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #10
    Yes, But.....
    Yes, but that's not to say the facility that's local to you isn't equally as capable and compitent.

    I didn't have the knowledge or advantage of this forum when I went through my ordeal...actually I don't think I even found or joined this forum until months post treatment. Just noticed actually, treatment ended mid june 2009, I joined sep 2009.

    My facility is local, and they are affilliated with Lee Moffitt Center of Tampa (which is a well known cancer center in Florida).

    But my small facility in Lakeland Florida (Watson Clinic Center for Cancer Care and Research) was awesome. My ENT whom has always been the lead actually graduated from Harvard Medical School, and did his internship at John Hopkins. He's still very active with white papers, studies and research.

    He has been spot on with every diagnosis from the first day that I saw him. He diagnosed the SCC in my tonsils, and even suggested that HPV was the probable cause. Back at the time I joined, a lot of people on here had not been tested or realized much of the HPV connection. It was relatively new on this board at that time. But through communication, a lot of us were pretty much in the same boat, and several had nearly identical or close treatment protoculs as myself.

    So in that aspect, you have a lot more going on than I did as for knowledge and experience.

    BTW, my treatment for Tonsil Cancer and a node on the same side SCC STG III HPV+. Treatment was nine weeks in three week cycles Cisplatin, Taxotere, 5FU, then seven weeks concurrent Carboplatin weekly and 35 daily IMRT rads, daily Amifostine Injections.

    My point being, don't discount your local facilities as a possibility of providing you with excellent and current technology and treatment....

    Another factor to consider is who your insurance company will deal with and approve you for.

    Investigate and weigh your choices....

    Best,
    John

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